Transitioning from College to Career

Transitioning from College to Career
Courtesy of the College Placement Office
Most seniors,
although excited
about graduation,
are seriously
concerned about
finding and starting that first post college
job. The reality of leaving the collegiate
environment and role of student to enter the
business world and becoming a productive
employee can be stressful. There are several
issues that are key to making a successful
transition:
1.time management
2.professionalism on
the job
3.job versus career
4.a current and
accurate resume
5.recognize that grads
get entry level jobs
Understanding these key issues and trying to
face them before leaving college will make
your post college expectations more
realistic.
Time Management
The scheduling of classes after noon or only
in the evening might not have prepared you
for the eight to five (or later) hours of the
business world. You can’t hit the snooze on
your alarm and show up to work forty-five
minutes late. Additionally the long
weekends and college breaks don’t exist in
most work environments. Vacation is
accumulated and not a given for every
holiday or snow day that occurs. In addition
to your longer hours at work you will have
to manage a social life. The days of staying
up till three in the morning won’t work
when you have to be at work by eight. If you
are employed and several of your friends are
still in college you might have to learn to
say no to events that could be considered
unprofessional or prevent you from
performing your job in a professional
manner the next day. Understanding these
time management issues and considering
them before their encounter will help in the
transition. Time management suggestions
include:
 Getting sufficient sleep
 Arriving to work early
 Avoid taking unnecessary time off
Job versus Career
Your first job might not be the dream job
that you envisioned obtaining after four long
years of college. Many first-year grads will
change their job in the first two years. What
is important is that you use this first job to
figure what you really want to do. Some
degrees are more flexible allowing a wider
range of possible career paths. Others, like
engineering, are very specific. Look for a
position that you feel will match your
academic and personal skills.
Professionalism on the Job
In college a certain amount of
irresponsibility is the right of passage. The
result might be a lecture from a professor or
a bad grade. In the business world
irresponsibility often results in being fired.